Even in Florida, we're low on Vitamin D, expert says

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 10:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 10:22 p.m.

Noted vitamin D researcher Dr. Michael Holick used visuals of a malformed iguana, a vampire bat getting a transfusion and pale sunbathers to make a serious point: At least 40 percent of the population has a vitamin D deficiency that can be a factor in diseases from bones to brain.

Facts

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Michael Holick delivered the lecture "The D-Lightful Vitamin D for Good Health" Thursday evening to a packed room at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition building in downtown Ocala. The talk was part of an ongoing series sponsored by the technical research facility and co-hosted by the College of Central Florida.

The iguana and the bat not actually getting a transfusion were both involved in his case studies, and the bathers were examples of sun-shunners likely in need of vitamin D.

"About 50 percent of infants in the U.S. are in a state of vitamin D deficiency," Holick said, which can lead to failure to thrive and bone disease.

"Even in sunny Florida, people have low vitamin D levels, which can be a concern in everything from stunted growth, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, tuberculosis, influenza and autoimmune disease," said Holick, 67, a doctor and biophysicist at Boston University Medical Center and vitamin D researcher for nearly 40 years, according to a biography distributed at the talk.

Even dementia and schizophrenia may be traced to a lack of vitamin D, Holick believes.

Holick showed visuals of a bone-deteriorating disease called osteomalacia that's tied to the lack of vitamin D.

The literature provided at the lecture indicated Holick has had about 300 publications on vitamin D and two books: "The UV Advantage" and "The Vitamin D Solution." Holick is the recipient of the Linus Pauling Research Award, although Holick said he "one-upped Pauling" in the vitamin alphabet.

Holick explained in his talk that early "hunter gatherers" had longer sunlight exposure, which produces increases of vitamin D in the body.

"The message from dermatologists about concern for sun exposure has gone unchallenged and led to a vitamin D deficiency pandemic," Holick said.

"We don't get vitamin D through diet. For example, a glass of milk has about 100 units of vitamin D. For 600 units, that would take six glasses," Holick stated.

Holick said he personally takes "3,000 to 4,000 units daily" and feels many patients are recommended doses greatly below what he states are "safe levels."

"I initiated the procedure of one 50,000-unit tablet every two weeks, which is the equal of about 3,300 units daily. I don't know of many vitamins which have had their recommended levels increased threefold," Holick said, adding that a doctor should make a test on each patient that will indicate the level of vitamin D so that a recommendation can be made and proper calcium levels be monitored.

Holick said the "25-hydroxy" test for vitamin D should show a range of "at least" 30, although 40 to 60 or higher up to 100 is acceptable, he said.

"A lawyer in Florida was taking a (concentrated) vitamin D liquid he purchased on line that was not properly diluted. He was taking about one million units daily and suffered vitamin D intoxication," Holick said, adding that the man showed no prolonged health problems after treatment.

Holick said the positive effects of moderate sun exposure were mentioned in a 1915 Navy study that showed persons working outdoors were "eight times less likely" to die from diseases than those who worked strictly indoors.

Dr. Stephen Anton with the University of Florida Institute of Aging is currently undertaking a six-month "Vitamin D as a Supplement Against Falls in Elders (D-Safe)" study of individuals over 70 years of age taking 800 units of vitamin D daily.

"The elderly seem to usually have lower levels of vitamin D," Anton said.

Holick said sun exposure was important for the body's vitamin D exposure but recommended moderation.

"You never want to get sunburn, but using SPF (sunscreen) 30 negates about 95 percent" of the positive effects of sun exposure, Holick said.

Holick recommend monitored time in the sun, for example 15-minute segments and using an iPhone app (http: dminder.info) that will provide the user with exact info on recommended exposure time based on GPS location and time of year.

"The best time for the body to make vitamin D from the sun due to the angle of the rays is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.," he said.

"The sun's rays change in winter. Above Atlanta, from November to March, you get almost no benefit, and even in Miami in winter only about 20 percent of full exposure benefit," Holick said.

Lecture attendee Pam Gardner came to bolster her efforts to "balance her use" of vitamins in conjunction with diet, while Paul and Susan Antram both said they enjoyed the lecture.

"We'll check our use of vitamin D," Susan Antram said.

Ocala Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Brian Stoothoff said he came to the talk "already a taker of vitamin D but would look at the levels."

Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn said he was "very excited and pleased by the IHMC lecture series."

<p>Noted vitamin D researcher Dr. Michael Holick used visuals of a malformed iguana, a vampire bat getting a transfusion and pale sunbathers to make a serious point: At least 40 percent of the population has a vitamin D deficiency that can be a factor in diseases from bones to brain.</p><p>Michael Holick delivered the lecture "The D-Lightful Vitamin D for Good Health" Thursday evening to a packed room at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition building in downtown Ocala. The talk was part of an ongoing series sponsored by the technical research facility and co-hosted by the College of Central Florida.</p><p>The iguana and the bat not actually getting a transfusion were both involved in his case studies, and the bathers were examples of sun-shunners likely in need of vitamin D.</p><p>"About 50 percent of infants in the U.S. are in a state of vitamin D deficiency," Holick said, which can lead to failure to thrive and bone disease.</p><p>"Even in sunny Florida, people have low vitamin D levels, which can be a concern in everything from stunted growth, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, tuberculosis, influenza and autoimmune disease," said Holick, 67, a doctor and biophysicist at Boston University Medical Center and vitamin D researcher for nearly 40 years, according to a biography distributed at the talk.</p><p>Even dementia and schizophrenia may be traced to a lack of vitamin D, Holick believes.</p><p>Holick showed visuals of a bone-deteriorating disease called osteomalacia that's tied to the lack of vitamin D.</p><p>The literature provided at the lecture indicated Holick has had about 300 publications on vitamin D and two books: "The UV Advantage" and "The Vitamin D Solution." Holick is the recipient of the Linus Pauling Research Award, although Holick said he "one-upped Pauling" in the vitamin alphabet.</p><p>Holick explained in his talk that early "hunter gatherers" had longer sunlight exposure, which produces increases of vitamin D in the body.</p><p>"The message from dermatologists about concern for sun exposure has gone unchallenged and led to a vitamin D deficiency pandemic," Holick said.</p><p>"We don't get vitamin D through diet. For example, a glass of milk has about 100 units of vitamin D. For 600 units, that would take six glasses," Holick stated.</p><p>Holick said he personally takes "3,000 to 4,000 units daily" and feels many patients are recommended doses greatly below what he states are "safe levels."</p><p>"I initiated the procedure of one 50,000-unit tablet every two weeks, which is the equal of about 3,300 units daily. I don't know of many vitamins which have had their recommended levels increased threefold," Holick said, adding that a doctor should make a test on each patient that will indicate the level of vitamin D so that a recommendation can be made and proper calcium levels be monitored.</p><p>Holick said the "25-hydroxy" test for vitamin D should show a range of "at least" 30, although 40 to 60 or higher up to 100 is acceptable, he said.</p><p>"A lawyer in Florida was taking a (concentrated) vitamin D liquid he purchased on line that was not properly diluted. He was taking about one million units daily and suffered vitamin D intoxication," Holick said, adding that the man showed no prolonged health problems after treatment.</p><p>Holick said the positive effects of moderate sun exposure were mentioned in a 1915 Navy study that showed persons working outdoors were "eight times less likely" to die from diseases than those who worked strictly indoors.</p><p>Dr. Stephen Anton with the University of Florida Institute of Aging is currently undertaking a six-month "Vitamin D as a Supplement Against Falls in Elders (D-Safe)" study of individuals over 70 years of age taking 800 units of vitamin D daily.</p><p>"The elderly seem to usually have lower levels of vitamin D," Anton said.</p><p>Holick said sun exposure was important for the body's vitamin D exposure but recommended moderation.</p><p>"You never want to get sunburn, but using SPF (sunscreen) 30 negates about 95 percent" of the positive effects of sun exposure, Holick said.</p><p>Holick recommend monitored time in the sun, for example 15-minute segments and using an iPhone app (http: dminder.info) that will provide the user with exact info on recommended exposure time based on GPS location and time of year.</p><p>"The best time for the body to make vitamin D from the sun due to the angle of the rays is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.," he said.</p><p>"The sun's rays change in winter. Above Atlanta, from November to March, you get almost no benefit, and even in Miami in winter only about 20 percent of full exposure benefit," Holick said.</p><p>Lecture attendee Pam Gardner came to bolster her efforts to "balance her use" of vitamins in conjunction with diet, while Paul and Susan Antram both said they enjoyed the lecture.</p><p>"We'll check our use of vitamin D," Susan Antram said.</p><p>Ocala Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Brian Stoothoff said he came to the talk "already a taker of vitamin D but would look at the levels."</p><p>Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn said he was "very excited and pleased by the IHMC lecture series."</p><p>"And I'll check my vitamin D level," he said.</p>